Students from St. Adalbert's School, Elm Park, collect food for the 20th annual Bread of Life Drive that takes place through April 8. From left are Lauren Collins, Madison Timmins and Justin Farley.
(Photo Courtesy of St. Adalbert's School)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - NORTH SHORE - Too many Staten Islanders are still reeling from the recent economic downturn, and nowhere more have the economic hard times hit than among individuals trying to feed their families. Stepping up to help feed the hungry are thousands of Staten Island students participating in the 20th Annual Bread of Life Food Drive (B.O.L.D.)

Organizations serving Staten Island's needy will receive a significant boost for their food pantry programs when students from more than 100 Staten Island schools, from St. George to Tottenville, collect food through April 8. The annual drive is sponsored by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Staten Island.

Public and private schools throughout the borough begin collecting food yesterday.

The food drive, whose theme this year is "20 Years of Fighting Hunger" will benefit nearly two dozen local organizations that serve Staten Islanders who have lost their job or benefits; senior citizens with inadequate incomes; single mothers with infant children; needy families; victims of domestic violence and the homeless.

Students from PS 16, in Tompkinsville, begin collecting food for the 20th annual Bread of Life Food Drive, which continues through April 8. Seen here, from left, are Frederick Sawyer, Guadalupe Garcia and Nathan Matthews.

The Bread of Life Food Drive began in 1992, with just 11 schools and six recipient organizations, but over the years, the number of participating public, parochial and private schools has grown steadily.

"The Bread of Life Food Drive seems each year to unite all the borough's students in one common effort to help people in need. We have some high-school students participating in this year's food drive, who have been involved with us since they were in grammar school," said Joe Delaney, the Notre Dame Club's food drive director.

"Each year, the Bread of Life grows by word of mouth. Schools seem to find that it's a project that complements their efforts to serve the Staten Island community. Even if children only bring in one can of food, they will learn they have helped their neighbor," Delaney said.

Members of the Notre Dame Club and volunteers from Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) will travel to participating schools on Staten Island a week from tomorrow to pick up an estimated 60,000 items of food.

Notre Dame Club members plan to use six trucks to go to schools from St. George to Tottenville. Once the food has been collected, it will be brought to Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood, early on April 9, where over 250 volunteers will unload the trucks, sort the items, then pack the food for delivery to recipient organizations.

Farrell has served as the host school for the drive since its inception. Farrell Principal Monsignor Edmund Whalen, said Staten Islanders can drop off last-minute donations of food to the school lobby next Saturday between 7:30 and 11 a.m.

Schools who would like to participate in B.O.L.D. should contact Delaney at 718-967-9825, or e-mail him at jodelaney@deloitte.com.

Bread of Life Food DriveThis annual campaign is an Islandwide initiative benefiting close to two dozen non-profit organizations that serve the borough's hungry and needy.